Signs of Poor Gut Health in Your Pet
(And What You Can Do About It)
Your pet's gut does a lot more than just digest food. It's home to trillions of bacteria that influence everything from immunity to mood to skin health. When that delicate ecosystem gets thrown off balance—a condition called dysbiosis—the effects can show up in surprising ways throughout your pet's body.
The good news? Once you recognize the signs, there are practical steps you can take to support your pet's digestive health and overall well-being. Let's talk about what to watch for and how you can help.
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Digestive Issues: The Most Obvious Red Flags
Diarrhea or Constipation
When your pet's gut bacteria are out of balance, one of the first places you'll notice is in their bathroom habits. For dogs, this means frequent loose stools, watery diarrhea, or straining to pass hard, dry feces. For cats, you'll notice changes in the litter box—loose or liquid stools, straining, or small, hard pellets that look like pebbles.
Here's the thing with cats: they're masters at hiding discomfort, so by the time you notice litter box changes, the issue may have been brewing for a while. Pay attention to how often your cat visits the box, how long they stay there, and whether they're vocalizing (which can indicate pain or straining).
What you can do: Before jumping to conclusions, rule out simple causes like a sudden diet change or stress. If digestive issues persist for more than 24-48 hours, it's time to dig deeper.
Supporting gut health often starts with what goes in the bowl. I've seen remarkable improvements in both dogs and cats who transition from highly processed kibble to gently cooked whole food diets. Even if a complete diet overhaul isn't realistic right now, adding whole food toppers can make a real difference in stool quality and digestive comfort.
For dogs, try plain pumpkin purée, bone broth, or a spoonful of kefir. For cats, a little plain pumpkin (just a teaspoon), bone broth made for cats (lower sodium), or a small amount of plain goat milk kefir can help. Cats tend to be more particular, so introduce new foods slowly and in tiny amounts.
If symptoms are severe or accompanied by blood, vomiting, or lethargy, contact your vet immediately. Diarrhea can lead to dangerous dehydration quickly—especially in cats, who are prone to becoming dehydrated faster than dogs.
Excessive Gas
If your dog is clearing the room with foul-smelling flatulence, that's often a sign of dysbiosis—too many harmful bacteria and not enough beneficial ones. Gas happens when food isn't being broken down properly, leading to fermentation in the gut.
Cats get gas too, though it's less obvious than in dogs. You might notice bloating, a distended belly, or your cat seeming uncomfortable after meals. Some cats will also have gurgling sounds from their stomach or show signs of nausea.
What you can do: Consider what your pet is eating. Foods high in hard-to-digest carbohydrates (like corn, wheat, or certain starches) can sometimes irritate the gut lining and contribute to gas. For cats specifically, many are lactose intolerant, and dairy-based treats or foods can cause significant digestive upset.
Adding a high-quality probiotic can help rebalance gut bacteria. I recommend Microbiome Labs Fidospore, which contains spore-based probiotics that survive stomach acid and colonize the gut effectively. It works well for both dogs and cats—just adjust the dosing based on your pet's size. Pair that with easily digestible whole foods, and you're giving your pet's system the support it needs to function properly.
Vomiting
An occasional upset stomach isn't cause for alarm, but frequent or persistent vomiting absolutely warrants attention. Chronic vomiting can indicate inflammation, food sensitivities, or a deeper gut imbalance.
With cats, vomiting is particularly common—but that doesn't mean it's normal. Many pet parents accept frequent hairballs or "scarf and barf" episodes as just part of life with a cat. While occasional hairballs happen, frequent vomiting (more than once a month) often signals an underlying issue like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), food sensitivities, or gut dysbiosis.
What you can do: Keep track of when and what your pet vomits. For dogs: Is it bile first thing in the morning? Undigested food? Foam? For cats: Is it hairballs, undigested food shortly after eating, or bile on an empty stomach? These details help your vet (and you) identify patterns.
Sometimes pets vomit because of food intolerances they've developed over time. A lifestyle sensitivity test from Glacier Peak can help identify which foods or environmental factors might be triggering your pet's symptoms. This kind of insight takes the guesswork out of managing chronic digestive upset in both dogs and cats.
For cats with frequent hairballs, gut health support is key. A healthy gut processes hair more efficiently, and proper hydration helps hair pass through rather than accumulate. Regular brushing helps too, but addressing gut health often reduces hairball frequency significantly.
Skin and Coat Problems
If your pet's coat looks dull, dry, or patchy—or if they're dealing with chronic itching, hot spots, or skin infections—their gut might be the culprit. The gut-skin connection is real: when digestion is compromised, nutrient absorption suffers, and inflammation can show up on the skin.
For cats, you might notice excessive grooming (leading to bald patches), scabs or bumps along the back or neck, or a coat that feels greasy or looks unkempt. Cats are meticulous groomers, so when they stop grooming properly or over-groom certain areas, it's a red flag.
What you can do: A diet lacking in quality animal proteins and essential fatty acids often leads to poor coat quality. I've seen dogs whose coats transformed after switching to gently cooked meals with varied protein sources like chicken, beef, fish, and eggs. The same is true for cats, though as obligate carnivores, they need even more protein and certain nutrients like taurine.
Whole food toppers like sardines (packed with omega-3s) can boost skin and coat health in both dogs and cats. Just make sure any fish you offer is boneless and packed in water, not oil or salt. A drizzle of bone broth made specifically for pets works well too. And don't underestimate the power of variety—rotating proteins and adding different ingredients (within what's safe for each species) ensures your pet gets a broader spectrum of nutrients.
If skin issues persist despite dietary changes, that sensitivity test can be invaluable for pinpointing specific triggers in both dogs and cats.
Bad Breath
Yes, pet breath is a thing—but it shouldn't knock you over. Persistent bad breath (halitosis) can stem from dental disease, but it's also a common sign of gut imbalance. When harmful bacteria outnumber the good guys, they produce foul-smelling gases that escape through your pet's mouth.
Cats with gut issues often have particularly pungent breath, and since dental disease is extremely common in cats, it can be hard to tell what's causing what. Often, it's both—poor dental health and gut dysbiosis feed into each other.
What you can do: Start with good dental hygiene, but don't stop there. Supporting gut health with probiotics and whole foods can address the root cause of the odor.
For dogs specifically, I recommend Herbsmith's Dog Breath, a nightly probiotic designed to promote a healthy mouth microbiome. It works alongside general gut health support to target bad breath at its source.
Fresh herbs like parsley, added to meals in small amounts, can naturally freshen breath while supporting liver detox pathways. (Note: parsley is safe for dogs in small amounts; for cats, use it sparingly and check with your vet first, as some cats are sensitive.) And those probiotics—both the mouth-specific and gut-focused ones—are doing double duty, helping digestion and reducing the bacterial imbalances that cause bad breath.
Changes in Energy and Mood
A healthy gut supports a healthy mind. If your once-playful pet is suddenly lethargic, anxious, or just seems "off," gut health could be a factor. The gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin, which directly influence mood and energy levels.
For dogs, this might look like decreased interest in walks or play, increased anxiety, or general moodiness. For cats, behavioral changes can be more subtle—hiding more than usual, decreased interest in toys, changes in vocalization, or increased irritability. Cats are particularly sensitive to feeling unwell, and gut discomfort can make them withdraw or become more reactive.
What you can do: Look at the big picture. Is your pet getting quality nutrition? Are they stressed? Is their diet varied and nutrient-dense?
I've seen both dogs and cats perk up significantly after transitioning to whole food diets. Real, nourishing food provides the building blocks for both physical and mental well-being. If your pet seems down or sluggish without an obvious cause, improving gut health is a great place to start.
Weakened Immune System
Did you know that about 70% of your pet's immune system lives in their gut? When gut bacteria are out of balance, your pet becomes more vulnerable to infections, illnesses, and chronic inflammation. You might notice recurring ear infections, urinary tract infections, or slow wound healing.
For cats specifically, chronic upper respiratory infections, recurring urinary issues, or persistent eye discharge can all point to compromised immunity linked to gut health. Cats are also prone to developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is directly connected to gut dysbiosis and immune system dysfunction.
What you can do: Strengthen the gut, strengthen the immune system. This means:
Feeding a species-appropriate diet: Gently cooked or raw whole foods with quality animal proteins, healthy fats, and appropriate additions. Remember that cats are obligate carnivores and need primarily meat-based diets, while dogs are more omnivorous.
Adding probiotics: Consistent probiotic supplementation helps maintain a healthy microbial balance. Fidospore is my go-to recommendation because it's effective and well-tolerated for both dogs and cats.
Limiting processed foods: Kibble, especially low-quality brands, often contains fillers, artificial additives, and inflammatory ingredients that disrupt gut health over time. Dry food is particularly problematic for cats, who naturally get most of their moisture from prey and have a low thirst drive.
Hydration: Always provide fresh, clean water. For dogs, bone broth, kefir, or raw goat milk are excellent hydration boosters that also support gut health. For cats, getting enough moisture is critical—consider bone broth, goat milk, or simply adding water to meals. Many cats won't drink enough water on their own, so incorporating moisture into food is essential. A stainless steel water fountain can also encourage drinking, as many pets (especially cats) prefer moving water.
Testing and Diagnosis: When to Seek Help
If your pet is showing multiple signs of poor gut health, or if symptoms are severe or persistent, it's time to consult your veterinarian. They can run stool tests to check for infections, parasites, or bacterial imbalances.
For cats, don't wait too long to seek help. Because cats hide symptoms so effectively, by the time they're visibly unwell, the problem may be more advanced. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is.
For a more comprehensive look at what might be triggering your pet's symptoms, I highly recommend the Glacier Peak Lifestyle Sensitivity Test. It's a non-invasive way to identify food and environmental sensitivities that could be at the root of chronic gut issues in both dogs and cats.
Your vet may also recommend fecal testing for dysbiosis or suggest treatments like probiotics or, in severe cases, fecal microbiota transplants.
Supporting Your Pet's Gut Health: A Holistic Approach
Improving your pet's gut health doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's what I recommend:
1. Prioritize whole, real food. Whether you go fully raw, gently cooked, or simply add whole food toppers to kibble, every step toward real nutrition matters. Remember that cats need high-protein, meat-based diets, while dogs can handle more variety.
2. Add a quality probiotic. Microbiome Labs Fidospore is my trusted recommendation for maintaining healthy gut bacteria in both dogs and cats.
3. Identify triggers. If your pet has chronic symptoms, consider a lifestyle sensitivity test to pinpoint what's causing the issue.
4. Rotate and diversify. Variety in proteins and appropriate toppers ensures balanced nutrition and prevents food sensitivities from developing. Cats can be pickier than dogs, so introduce new foods slowly and respect their preferences while still offering variety.
5. Stay hydrated. This is especially critical for cats. Offer fresh water, bone broth, or raw goat milk. For cats, adding water or broth to meals can significantly improve hydration.
6. Work with a professional. Gut health is complex, and every pet is different. Personalized guidance can make all the difference.
Your pet's gut health is the foundation of their overall wellness. When digestion is balanced, everything else—immunity, energy, skin, mood—tends to fall into place. If you've noticed any of these signs in your dog or cat, don't wait. Small changes now can lead to big improvements down the road.
Need help creating a personalized plan for your pet's gut health? I'd love to support you. Book a free Discovery Call here and let's talk about your pet's unique needs and how we can get them feeling their best.
